Our sister site tolkienbrasil.com has posted and sent word of some very interesting verification that there is at least a possibility of a J.R.R. Tolkien inspired Middle-earth theme park. In records obtained by the website from the U.S. Patent office, the Saul Zaents Company, has registered in a goods and services document, several uses for Middle-earth properties that includes theme parks. When rumors of this first surfaced there was no credible source, or even really any source, that this was being explored. It didn't even rise to the level of a rumor but now, those floating ideas are officially documented.

The Zaents Company owns Middle-earth Enterprises and that company gives Warner Bros. and other studios the right to produce Hobbit films and all that springs from them. The author, Tolkien sold his movie rights before his death to pay for medical expenses.

The found document is below, click it for a larger version:

The document, dated January 22, 2013, could be the company simply protecting its rights to develop a theme park in response to the message board rumors late last year or it could be actively considering such a development as a real possibility. Thanks again to Tolkienbrasil.com for the heads up. You can read the story right here or below is a rough translation:

FROM TOLKIENBRASIL.COM:

Warner Bross and Univeral are already thinking of a theme park ride on Middle Earth and it looks like the rumors are true.

The first news about occurred in early January in a post on micro site Micechat.com. In saying only: "Great news in the world of theme parks. Universal is negotiating the possibility of bringing the sights and scenery of The Lord of the Rings at a theme park near you. Heated with the success of the magical world of Harry Potter, Universal is unwilling to let Disney take the reins of the market with parks Avatar or Star Wars. We will have an exciting time for fans of theme parks. "

Many took no credibility with the post, why not present any kind of source on this information. And there is no announcement from Universal about. Thus, the information was taken as mere rumor.

Given the recent process of merchandising products on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Tolkien Estate promoted by the companies face in administering the films (Warner Bros, New Line and Saulz Company), started to think that a theme park would still be far from becoming reality.

However, recently the site parkrumors.com presented what appears to be a piece of a document relating to the transaction that is like a theme park. This is the trademark registration of the name "Middle Earth", which is the company Saulz Company. But that was extended with the possibility of doing a theme park.

The document presented by Parkrumors site is authentic?

Well, the document that the site has not parkrumors has its source, ie, we do not know its origin, since it is not told what department this document originou.O that could still form the opinion that it is only a rumor from fact.

Lawyer Site Tolkien Brazil came into contact with the industry patent records from the U.S. government on this information and the veracity of the document. And it was confirmed as true in an email received this morning. In that email it was confirmed that no such document exists and can be found on-site records of U.S. patents (see HERE). parquetemÃ¡ricodoc

Click on image to enlarge

In this document we see that is dated on January 22, 2013, with the word mark "Middle Earth". Taking as the record owner of the company The Saul Zaentz COMPANY (which is the company that holds the rights to produce adaptations of the hobbit, lord of the rings and that makes the licenses of any products derived from these stories). Below is the translation of the terms of the document:

IC 028. U.S. 022023038050. G & S: Amusement

IC 035. U.S. 100101102. G & S: Management facilities for camping; Providing consumer information services and making referrals in the field of entertainment services for products, services, events, activities, facilities and locations

IC 039. U.S. 100 105. G & S: Organization of excursions; Organization of sightseeing trips, providing information, news and commentary in the field of travel, providing links to websites of other guidebooks, transportation of passengers and / or goods by car, boat and rail, transportation services, namely, providing transport services by bus services travel information

The document is official. And we see clearly that this is a trademark registration document for the purpose of producing a theme park. It remains now await negotiations to be made quickly and it becomes reality theme park on the middle ground.

A pity that the park "Middle Earth" will have no character of Silmarillon stories ...

while the rights to develop a theme park may exist there is no indication that this avenue is being pursued by Zaentz. We'd need to await further word on that point. Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..." Dwarves: "Pretty rings..." Men: "Pretty rings..." Sauron: "Mine's better."

"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.

...what to think of a Middle Earth Theme Park. I think that maybe an open air museum would be better. It could all be done a bit more ''tasteful'' when compared to a theme park. You know, just build replicas of Middle Earth buildings and landscapes, include animals and actors who are dressed up as orcs, elves, etc. Include an arena-like setting in which they give ''fight shows'', etc. And have a Michel Delving Museum in which we can see all kinds of props from the movies presented as ''historic pieces''.

That would be much better than a true theme park, imho. ''Do not fear the shadows, for seeing them means light is near...''

not really a theme park, but more like an open air museum. So no rides, merry-go-rounds, rollercoasters or anything like that. And as PJ's movies are nowadays our main visualizations of Tolkien's world, I would prefer to have them as a starting point. ''Do not fear the shadows, for seeing them means light is near...''

In between Two Towers and Return of the King an exhibition toured the world with costumes, props, models, original artwork and other things relating specifically to the films. I saw it at the Science Museum in London and it was amazing to see the work up close and appreciate the skill that went into it and the details that don't show up on screen. Theoden's armour, for example - just breathtaking. Because, whatever anyone thinks of the adaptation, the writing and so on, would anyone disagree that the actual artwork that goes into these films is exceptional in its own right and worth celebrating?

So that kind of display would be excellent as an exhibition on a permanent site, I think. It would enable some of the larger things - like actual sets - to be displayed and preserved. Something akin to the Harry Potter studio tour at Leavesden, but with a style of its own. And I suppose, being film-related, it would have to be in New Zealand, though selfishly I'd like it to be in the UK, so that I could see it.

But a theme park? With rides and all allied paraphernalia? No. All that seems so alien to the spirit of the books.

I think I theme park is just a little too commercial. When I think of Tolkien and all his beautiful works, a theme park does not fit in with the idea. Tolkien's works to me means beauty, poetry, great deeds of brave people. The theme park idea is just too tacky. Maybe because I live two hours from Orlando, and get to do see and do all the commercial theme park stuff as often as I wish, but I would not like too see Middle Earth brought to this level. I have Disney and Universal to enjoy when I need my dose of theme park tacky!

As I just posted down in the other Theme Park thread, I was able to go to a Lord of the Rings Exhibit in Indianapolis, and it's spin-tingling wonderful! There's nothing like standing in front of Treebeard, a Troll or a giant Nazgul leaning toward you; seeing Boromir lying in his funeral boat; seeing Galadriel's beaded gown; a tortured Hobbiton miniature; Frodo's Shire outfit; Alan Lee's artwork... it's wonderful! First draft of TH:AUJ Geeky Observation List - updated list coming soon